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info requested on different Polk SDA models

P

pglbook

Member
I am a big fan of vintage Polk speakers and have a few of the Monitor Series speakers (Monotor 7s, 10s) but do not know much about the Polk SDA or SDA SRS series. I did some research online but it is confusing as there are so many different models in the SDA series - SDA 1, SDA 2, SDA 2B, SDA 2C, SDA SRS, etc

I am curious what is considered the best model SDA speaker and if there are in the SDA series to avoid.

Thanks.
 
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Your best bets for info on SDAs are the Polk Audio forums www.polkaudio.com/forums
and www.polksda.com

I am not an SDA expert (not really a huge fan, although I certainly wouldn't mind having a pair!) finding them somewhat gimmicky compared to the earlier, and very unassuming and profoundly cost effective, "Monitor Series" (5, 7, 10, and to a lesser extent the 4, 9, 12, and the Minimonitor)... but I don't think there are any to avoid.

I would guess the biggest, tallest ones with the most drivers in them were meant to be the best.

AKer John in MA has a pair of huge-mongous ones...

http://www.audiokarma.org/forums/showthread.php?t=457332&highlight=polk

DSC_1167.jpg

link - http://i442.photobucket.com/albums/qq141/20487/audio/DSC_1167.jpg
 
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There really aren't any models to avoid in the sda line. Placement is the key moreso than any other type of speaker that I've ever heard. If you don't have them properly set up you won't get the sda effect. But if you do get it right nothing else will do.
The one's pictured are the top dog in the sda line up.
 
They're a speaker that works to cancel out inter-aural crosstalk (essentially it tries to make sure your left ear only hears the left speaker, and your right ear only hears the right speaker), doing this gives it it's legendary soundstage. I also know that for the speakers to work, your amp needs to be common ground (you CAN NOT use a non-common ground or seperate monoblock amps with the SDA speakers with the SDA cable plugged in). And if the Monitor 7's are any indication, they are very nice sounding speakers.

I was going to pick up a pair of SDA's awhile ago, but it ended up falling through after the seller sold them the night before our agreed meeting day.
 
I had a pair of SDA-SRS 2.3s. Very big and heavy. Great bass and if positioned correctly and having a large enough amp, will more then satisfy most. I was driving these at the time with a Soundcraftsman 5002 (250 rms/c).

They always came in left and right hand sets as there was a cord that connected in-between the speakers. This cord would send out-of-phase signal to the other speakers inside mid/bass drivers, thus canceling cross-talk distortion. It did indeed work well, as often times I could point to the source of the sound (with my eyes closed) and it would be well beyond the outside of the speaker.....

Wayner
 
I have a pair of 2B's, and have not found fault with them. I'd recommend you find someone with a pair of SDA's and have a listen and see what you think. The smaller ones can be had for around $200 if you are patient, and for the money you will not be disappointed. Get as much speaker as your situation will allow, whether that's financial, room size, or neighbors, and make sure you have an amplifier that will drive them.
 
WaynerN said:
I had a pair of SDA-SRS 2.3s. Very big and heavy. Great bass and if positioned correctly and having a large enough amp, will more then satisfy most. I was driving these at the time with a Soundcraftsman 5002 (250 rms/c).

They always came in left and right hand sets as there was a cord that connected in-between the speakers. This cord would send out-of-phase signal to the other speakers inside mid/bass drivers, thus canceling cross-talk distortion. It did indeed work well, as often times I could point to the source of the sound (with my eyes closed) and it would be well beyond the outside of the speaker.....

Wayner
Click to expand...

That was a hell of a power amp. I owned one for 15 years. Wish I still had it.


..
 
Off topic (sorry) but I also had a Soundcraftsmen DX4100 preamp and the ST-7001(?) fm tuner. This system replaced my aging Marantz 3300 pre and 240 power amp.

The Polks sounded great with both, but the Soundcraftsmen had way more power and control......

Wayner
 
Hello All,

It's been many years since this post but I wanted to just update one comment.

Originally the Polk SDA's were only designed for use with a Common Ground Amp. The reason being is that the SDA electronics on the crossovers require a cable to be attached between the two speakers. The "SDA Cable" and that cable will join the negatives poles of the Mono amps and may blow your system up.

But Matthew Polk designed an SDA cable that allows you to use Mono Blocks. The Ai-1 cable. But they are very rare and they were limited to basically 200 watts per channel before the SDA effect started to break up.

Darque Knight on the Polk Audio forum designed a new Ai-1 cable called the Dreadnought. It uses a custom made toroidal transformer which allows the use of up to 1000 watts per channel.

You can read all about his upgrades here: http://forum.polkaudio.com/discussi...to-the-sda-srs-1-2tl-summary-of-modifications

With the Ai-1 cable you can use Mono Amps.

Thanks,

Lasareath
 
Hey Lasareath.........Nice to see your first post here at ak and hope to see lots more. You know it's been 5 years to the day already that I stopped by and heard your 1.2tl's? That was an eye opening........or should I say ear opening experience that day that is still fresh in my mind.

I'm guessing you still have them?
 
motorstereo said:
Hey Lasareath.........Nice to see your first post here at ak and hope to see lots more. You know it's been 5 years to the day already that I stopped by and heard your 1.2tl's? That was an eye opening........or should I say ear opening experience that day that is still fresh in my mind.

I'm guessing you still have them?
Click to expand...


Yes I still have them. I'm not on the Polk Audio forum any longer, had some issue there and had to leave. But now I'm hanging out at this Polk Audio group on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/805573266179485/
 
Well it's about time you posted then lol. Yes I'm a member of that fb group to but I don't post much. Glad to hear you've still got them. I've still got Joe's 1.2tl's to and have taken them up a few notches. Your set up was my inspiration I might add to.
 
motorstereo said:
Well it's about time you posted then lol. Yes I'm a member of that fb group to but I don't post much. Glad to hear you've still got them. I've still got Joe's 1.2tl's to and have taken them up a few notches. Your set up was my inspiration I might add to.
Click to expand...

Ahhh, You have Joe's Speakers, Are you the guy who bought my CRS+'s ?

Here's mine 9 months ago:
 
Nice video Las. Nope that wasn't me that bought your CRS+s but I did come home with a couple pair of your MIT cables:)
 
pglbook said:
I am a big fan of vintage Polk speakers and have a few of the Monitor Series speakers (Monotor 7s, 10s) but do not know much about the Polk SDA or SDA SRS series. I did some research online but it is confusing as there are so many different models in the SDA series - SDA 1, SDA 2, SDA 2B, SDA 2C, SDA SRS, etc

I am curious what is considered the best model SDA speaker and if there are in the SDA series to avoid.

Thanks.
Click to expand...
Old thread but having owned most Polk's, the SDA SRS 2.3 TL is the cats meow.
 
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